Close Up
by Amanda Quick
Series: Burning Cove #4
Series Rating:
Published by Berkley on May 5, 2020
Genres: Historical Paranormal Romantic Suspense
Pages: 304
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Book Depository
Also in this series: The Other Lady Vanishes, The Girl Who Knew Too Much, Tightrope, The Lady Has a Past, When She Dreams, The Bride Wore White
Welcome to Burning Cove, California where 1930s Hollywood glamour conceals a ruthless killer…
Vivian Brazier never thought life as an art photographer would include nightly wake-up calls to snap photos of grisly crime scenes or headshots for aspiring male actors. Although she is set on a career of transforming photography into a new art form, she knows her current work is what’s paying the bills.
After shooting crime scene photos of a famous actress, the latest victim of the murderer the press has dubbed the “Dagger Killer,” Vivian notices eerie similarities to the crime scenes of previous victims—details that only another photographer would have noticed—details that put Vivian at the top of the killer’s target list.
Nick Sundridge has always been able to “see” things that others don’t, coping with disturbing dreams and visions. His talent, or as he puts it—his curse—along with his dark past makes him a recluse, but a brilliant investigator. As the only one with the ability to help, Nick is sent to protect Vivian. Together, they discover the Dagger Killer has ties to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood royalty and high society. It is a cutthroat world of allure and deception that Vivian and Nick must traverse—all in order to uncover the killer who will stop at nothing to add them to their gallery of murders.
Close Up by Amanda Quick, a thrilling mystery, with romance, friendship, and murder. I was on the edge of my seat.
Will Vivian and Nick come to an understanding, or will the murder take them both out?
Vivian Brazier
Vivian is a wealthy socialite from San Francisco. However, she doesn’t act as you would expect. Vivian is a photographer, or instead, she wants to be one but hasn’t entirely made it yet. So, since her parents don’t approve of her dream, they have closed her accounts. This predicament doesn’t stop Vivian though, she heads to Los Angeles and does what is needed to pay the bills. Hence, she has become what we call a photojournalist. Some would say she has a special gift for finding her subject’s secrets.
I love Vivian’s tenacity and the way she treats all of her subjects with respect. She seems to see down into your soul. Then there is her connection with Nick, which is right there. Oh, and she has lots of courage and bravery.
Nick Sundridge
Nick is open to things that others can’t fathom. He believes that his family has been cursed. Whether on not it has or hasn’t isn’t even a question as Nick learns to cope with the dreams that his gift gives him. Although it has taken a while for Nick to learn these things and a previous love hurt him. Yet, Nick is strong and intelligent, which is what Vivian sees.
I like the character, Nick. He is independent and sees them more than most. Nick and Vivian make a nice pair and complement each other well.
The Mystery
At first, I was a bit confused as we don’t start in Burning Cove. However, Ms. Quick brings us about relatively fast, and now I love the beginning as it shows us Vivian’s strength. So, we have a few things going on. There is the “Dagger Killer.” We have to find who wrote the coded journal from the last book Tightrope, and figure out who ordered Vivian’s death and why? I loved this romantic mystery, and the ending is so fabulously written.
Five Stars
Close Up by Amanda Quick’s rating is five stars. There is just something about the 1930s, Hollywood, and this version of the California coast that I love. So, when Ms. Quick adds in the mystery and romance, it’s like heaven. Ok, maybe not heaven, but it is exemplary. If you haven’t read this series, you seriously should.
The Burning Cove Series
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Close Up by Amanda Quick.
Until the next time,
This Guest Review is for Baroness’ Book Trove.
About Amanda Quick
JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense, often with a psychic and paranormal twist, in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
Ms. Krentz is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.
(Above is taken from Amanda Quick’s Goodreads Author Page and Photo Credit: Marc Von Borstel)
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